Pitstop: Tasman Cup battle

Steve Ross and Chris Hyde will be battling it out for the points lead at third round of the MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series this weekend at Hampton Downs. Series newcomer Ross leads with 130 points, six more than 2007-08 series champion Hyde and 12 more than former series champion Ian Clements. With defending champion Ken Smith missing the first round at Manfeild, Ross is now in the box seat heading into the next two rounds.

Hillclimb challenge

The Southern Twin Peaks Challenge, contested at the two main southern hillclimbs at Kaitangata and Bluff each year, will feature plenty of extra excitement in 2010. The two previous titles have seen the events run several months apart but in 2010 the hillclimbs will be held on subsequent weekends, with the champion being the driver who records the fastest total elapsed time in their fastest run at each event. Kaitangata is January 30 and Bluff is set for February 6.

Speedway heats up

Some of New Zealand's hottest speedway talent will line up to contest the South Island Solo Championships at Oreti Park today. Dale Finch is a title contender having claimed the national U-21 crown there in December. Grant Tregoning, a three-time NZ U-21 champion and fellow Cantabrian Andy Aldridge rank among Finch's toughest rivals. The pair both raced professionally in the UK last year and boast considerable experience.

One driver to come

Renault may not sign a second driver before the first testing of the new Formula One car next month. Robert Kubica will be testing alone. Those in the know suggest Nick Heidfeld, Kubica's former teammate at BMW Sauber, is among the leading contenders and the Russian GP2 driver Vitaly Petrov could be in with a chance.

Rookies in Nascar

Former F1 driver and crash test dummy Nelsinho Piquet is set to make his tin-top debut in the ARCA (development league for Nascar) season-opener at Daytona on February 6. He will be joined by IndyCar driver Danica Patrick, multiple motocross champion Ricky Carmichael and IndyCar's Milka Duno. Piquet plans to make his debut in Nascar-sanctioned racing a week later in the Truck Series round at the same track.